Flares, Scares and the Cristiano Affair: The Euro 2016 Review

With the first week of Euro 2016 now behind us, we're starting to get a feel for which teams are really going to excel at the tournament. France, Spain and Italy have already qualified for the knockout stages, with several sides hot on their heels.

Still, this summer's tournament is about so much more than just football. Supporters from all over Europe have come together to watch the beautiful game and, naturally, that has led to widespread violence, endemic hooliganism, and plenty of far-right posturing in the stands. People from all four corners of Europe have travelled to the Euros to represent their countries and, as is only to be expected, the whole thing has descended into a farce of nationalism and mutual hatred.

As it was, so shall it ever be. Here's the latest Euro 2016 review.

While Wales were left heartbroken on Thursday afternoon, England's campaign finally achieved lift off. Daniel Sturridge's fantastic late winner ensured three points for the Three Lions, and almost guaranteed them a place in the knockout rounds.

Nonetheless, England were anything but convincing in the game against their Welsh neighbours. Their original set-up looked one-paced as ever, and it was only once they had gone behind to Gareth Bale's impudent free-kick that Roy Hodgson took a bolder approach. By the end of the match, all five of England's strikers had graced the pitch, and Roy's sudden recourse to radicalism paid off.

Roy now has a decision to make on which of those strikers to start against Slovakia. Harry Kane has struggled to control the ball so far this tournament, let alone score, and – with both Sturridge and Jamie Vardy managing to get on the scoresheet against Wales – it might be time to give someone else a chance up front.

Talented as he is, Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to master the fine art of being likeable. While his bombastically poor sportsmanship in the aftermath of Portugal's draw with Iceland threatened to cause some sort of diplomatic incident between the two countries, it also chipped away at what little sympathy he receives from the average fan. Here he was, the glorious Cristiano Ronaldo, needlessly shitting on the plucky underdog for having the temerity to stand up to his high-handed might.

As such, he can hardly be surprised that his nightmarish performance against Austria has seen him emphatically shat on by commentators, pundits and columnists in turn.

Portugal could only muster a goalless draw against David Alaba and co. on Saturday, despite the fact that their opponents looked painfully inept. After tallying up a number of fruitless shots over the course of the match, Ronaldo had a goal ruled out for offside and saw a late penalty ricochet back off the post. As he grimaced towards the heavens at the final whistle, the result of his hubris was plain for all to see.

Ronaldo reaped the whirlwind against Austria. He overreached himself, and so he was struck down. His tournament is starting to resemble a morality tale, with his missed penalty as its tragic zenith. The gods don't take kindly to sore losers, so don't be surprised if Portugal crash out in the group stage.

Though we've seen some significant misbehaviour already at this tournament, the scenes in the stands as Croatia faced the Czech Republic on Friday were particularly dramatic. While tribalistic hatred between different sets of fans is depressingly predictable, it's not often that a single fanbase tears itself apart in such spectacular fashion as Croatia's did towards the end of the match.

With their side leading 2-1, a small number of Croatian fans started to throw flares onto the turf. People started fighting amongst themselves in the stands, with punches being thrown in full view of the television cameras. On the pitch, a flare exploded in a steward's face as the players tried to remonstrate with the support. The match was temporarily suspended, before Croatia subsequently conceded a penalty and ended up with an underwhelming draw.

As one of the most wilful acts of self-sabotage ever witnessed from a group of supporters, the incident is bound to go down in the annals of footballing folklore. Croatia fans aren't the only ones trashing their team's reputation, however. Black-shirted Hungarian supporters fought with stewards before their clash with Iceland on Saturday evening, and were reportedly seen Seig Heiling from the sidelines.

What a tournament Euro 2016 is turning out to be. If the violence wasn't enough to be getting on with, we've now got to deal with a smattering of arbitrary Nazism. Great.

Despite the fact that they're reigning champions, Spain have come into Euro 2016 with remarkably little fanfare. After their disastrous showing at the 2014 World Cup and a low-profile qualifying campaign, they were allowed to fly under the radar somewhat in the weeks leading up to the tournament. Their opening win against the Czech Republic was nothing to get excited about, but their decisive victory over Turkey on Friday spoke volumes about their prospects for the rest of the competition.

Spain are still a scarily good side, and they're only just getting started.

Alongside the usual star performers – Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, David Silva and the like – Nolito stood out as a precious asset in the 3-0 win against the Turks. Spain have been accused of going into the Euros with few established goalscorers, but the Celta Vigo forward proved that to be something of a misconception with a well-taken finish just before half time.

As a willing runner and clever finisher who thrives on the service of Spain's midfield, it's hardly a surprise that Nolito has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer. He looks a versatile talent and, as such, Euro 2016 could secure his status as an adopted Catalan.

Thunder rumbles over the ocean. Great sheets of ice crack apart, and tumble into the sea. The mountains echo with an otherworldly roar, the pine forests shake, and great flurries of snow descend upon the warmer climes of Europe. The Norse gods are here, and their names are Halldórsson, Saevarsson, Arnason, Gunnarsson, Bjarnason, Sigthorsson, Sigurdsson, Gudjohnsen, Skúlason, Gudmundsson and Finnbogason.

Perhaps you think that's an undeservedly epic introduction for a side that have so far picked up two points from the Euros, and perhaps it's true that this Iceland team are not quite godlike as of yet. In their cold and glacial homeland, however, they are already icons. Their draw with Hungary leaves them with a good chance of qualifying for the knockout rounds, which would be an amazing feat for a country with a population consisting of one schooner's worth of fishermen and an ageing sheepdog.

If the sons of Iceland can beat Austria on Wednesday, they will become deities in their own right. Valhalla is calling, lads, and we hear there's Icelandic Doppelbock on tap.

@W_F_Magee